Vietnam - On-the-spot alcohol test for drivers in Hanoi

As part of the national traffic safety month, traffic police in Hanoi are testing drivers for alcohol levels and those who have alcohol levels above 0.25 mg will be fined from VND200,000 to VND6 million.

The capital police have set up checkpoints near beer eateries to check drivers for their alcohol content in their breath by asking them to blow in a disposable breathalyzer pipe connected to a gauge.

Under prevailing regulations, drunk motorbike drivers face a fine of VND200,000-300,000 (US$9.6-14.4) for their alcohol levels of 0.25-0.4 mg per liter of breath and will have their driver’s licenses held by police for 30 days.

For higher alcohol contents, the highest fine is VND500,000-VND1 million ($24-48) and the violators will have their licenses held for 60 days.

Heavier fines are applied for drunk car drivers, with the two respective penalty rates being VND2-3 million ($96-144) and VND4-6 million ($192-288). The respective durations for driver’s licenses to be held are the same as those for drunk motorbike drivers.

In large cities, like Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, the rates will double.

After the first four days of operation, Traffic Police Team No. 1 in Hanoi has given fines to about 20 drivers of cars and motorbikes, said Lieutenant Colonel Ha Van Tuan, deputy head of the team.

Meanwhile, Traffic Police Team No. 4 has handled 55 violations and temporarily held 2 cars and 3 motorbikes from the drivers whose alcohol levels were too high, Lieutenant Colonel Vu Van Ngoai, deputy head of the team, said.

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